The European Council has approved an additional €20 million to support the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) in its ongoing deployment in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, combating an insurgency linked to Islamic State.
The funding, announced on Monday, will cover personal equipment and strategic airlift costs. This allocation follows a previous €20 million commitment made by the EU in December 2022.
Since late 2021, Rwandan forces have been pivotal in countering the insurgency, which has disrupted the region for years and stalled a $20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project led by TotalEnergies SE.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, highlighted the importance of the RDF’s presence, stating, “The presence of the Rwanda Defence Force troops has been instrumental to make progress and remains key. This top-up measure is a testimony of the EU’s support to ‘African solutions for African problems.’”
The move underscores the EU’s commitment to regional stability and its reliance on African-led initiatives to address security challenges on the continent.
